Alexa McDonough | |
---|---|
Leader of the New Democratic Party | |
In office October 14, 1995 – January 25, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Audrey McLaughlin |
Succeeded by | Jack Layton |
Member of Parliament for Halifax | |
In office June 2, 1997 – October 14, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Mary Clancy |
Succeeded by | Megan Leslie |
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party | |
In office November 16, 1980 – November 19, 1994 | |
Preceded by | Buddy MacEachern |
Succeeded by | John Holm |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia | |
In office May 25, 1993 – October 20, 1995 | |
Preceded by | Constituency established |
Succeeded by | Eileen O'Connell |
Constituency | Halifax Fairview |
In office October 6, 1981 – May 25, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Walter Fitzgerald |
Succeeded by | Jay Abbass |
Constituency | Halifax Chebucto |
Personal details | |
Born | Alexa Ann Shaw August 11, 1944 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Died | January 15, 2022 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | (aged 77)
Political party | New Democratic (from 1974) |
Other political affiliations | Liberal (1970–1974) |
Spouse |
Peter McDonough
(m. 1966; div. 1993) |
Domestic partner | David MacDonald (1997–2004) |
Children | 2 |
Parents |
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Alma mater | Dalhousie University (BA) |
Profession |
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Alexa Ann McDonough OC ONS (née Shaw; August 11, 1944 – January 15, 2022) was a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Nova Scotia when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's (NSNDP) leader in 1980.
McDonough served as a member of the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1981 to 1994, representing the Halifax Chebucto and Halifax Fairview electoral districts. She stepped down as the NSNDP's leader and as a member of the legislature in 1994. She subsequently ran for and was elected, leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1995. McDonough was elected the Member of Parliament (MP) for the federal electoral district of Halifax in 1997. She stepped down as party leader in 2003 but continued to serve as an MP for two more terms, until 2008, when she retired from politics altogether. In 2009, she became the interim president of Mount Saint Vincent University and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in December of that year.